Ezra 4:18
New International Version
The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.

New Living Translation
“The letter you sent has been translated and read to me.

English Standard Version
the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Berean Standard Bible
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

King James Bible
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

New King James Version
The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me.

New American Standard Bible
the document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.

NASB 1995
the document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.

NASB 1977
the document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.

Legacy Standard Bible
the document which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Amplified Bible
The document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.

Christian Standard Bible
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

American Standard Version
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

Contemporary English Version
After your letter was translated and read to me,

English Revised Version
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The letter you sent me has been read word for word in my presence.

Good News Translation
"The letter which you sent has been translated and read to me.

International Standard Version
The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.

Majority Standard Bible
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

NET Bible
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence.

New Heart English Bible
The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Webster's Bible Translation
The letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me.

World English Bible
The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The letter that you sent to us, explained, has been read before me,

Young's Literal Translation
The letter that ye sent unto us, explained, hath been read before me,

Smith's Literal Translation
The epistle that ye sent to us being read distinctly before me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The accusation, which you have sent to us, hath been plainly read before me,

Catholic Public Domain Version
“The accusation, which you have sent to us, has been read aloud before me.

New American Bible
The communication which you sent us has been read in translation in my presence.

New Revised Standard Version
the letter that you sent to us has been read in translation before me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When the letter which you sent to us arrived it was plainly read before me,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when the letter that you sent to me arrived, truly they read it before me, and a decree was appointed before me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
the letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The tribute-gatherer whom ye sent to us, has been called before me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Decree of Artaxerxes
17Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings. 18The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. 19I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 2:7-9
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. / And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. / Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

Daniel 6:6-9
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! / All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. / Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ...

Esther 3:12-14
On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring. / And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. / A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

2 Chronicles 30:1-6
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. / For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, / since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem. ...

1 Kings 21:8-11
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. / But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” ...

Acts 23:25-30
And he wrote the following letter: / Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. / This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, ...

Acts 15:23-29
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. / It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said. / So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ...

Romans 13:1-7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ...

Esther 8:8-10
Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.” / At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. / Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

2 Kings 19:14
So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

Jeremiah 29:1-3
This is the text of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the others Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / (This was after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had been exiled from Jerusalem.) / The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:

Acts 25:26-27
I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. / For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

Luke 2:1-3
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. / This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. / And everyone went to his own town to register.

Matthew 27:37
Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.


Treasury of Scripture

The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Jump to Previous
Clear Distinctly Document Explained Letter Plainly Presence Read Sense Translated
Jump to Next
Clear Distinctly Document Explained Letter Plainly Presence Read Sense Translated
Ezra 4
1. The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews,
4. endeavor to hinder it
7. Their letter to Artaxerxes
17. The answer and decree of Artaxerxes
23. The building is hindered














The letter you sent us
This phrase refers to the correspondence sent by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin to King Artaxerxes, expressing their opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In the historical context, letters were a primary means of communication between distant regions and rulers. The use of written communication highlights the bureaucratic nature of the Persian Empire, which maintained control over its vast territories through such documentation. This letter is part of a series of exchanges that reflect the political tensions surrounding the rebuilding efforts after the Babylonian exile.

has been translated
The need for translation indicates the linguistic diversity of the Persian Empire, which included many different peoples and languages. Aramaic was commonly used as a lingua franca in the empire, and it is likely that the original letter was written in this language. The translation process underscores the administrative complexity of the empire and the importance of accurate communication in governance. This also reflects the broader biblical theme of God's work transcending language barriers, as seen in the New Testament with the spread of the Gospel to all nations.

and read in my presence
The phrase suggests that the letter was given significant attention by King Artaxerxes, who personally reviewed its contents. This indicates the seriousness with which the Persian administration regarded the situation in Jerusalem. The act of reading the letter in the king's presence also implies a formal and official response was forthcoming. In a broader biblical context, the reading of important documents in the presence of leaders is a recurring theme, as seen in the public reading of the Law in the Old Testament, emphasizing the authority and accountability of leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezra
A scribe and priest who led the second group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He is known for his dedication to the Law of God and his role in the spiritual and physical restoration of Jerusalem.

2. Artaxerxes
The Persian king during the time of Ezra. He received the letter from the adversaries of Judah and Jerusalem, which led to the halting of the rebuilding efforts.

3. Adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
These were the people who opposed the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. They wrote to King Artaxerxes to stop the work.

4. Jerusalem
The city central to Jewish identity and worship, which was in the process of being rebuilt after the Babylonian exile.

5. The Letter
A document sent by the adversaries to King Artaxerxes, accusing the Jews of rebellion and seeking to halt the reconstruction efforts.
Teaching Points
Opposition to God's Work
Opposition is a common experience for those who seek to do God's will. Just as the Jews faced resistance, believers today may encounter challenges when pursuing God's purposes.

The Power of Prayer and Perseverance
Despite opposition, the Jews continued to seek God's guidance and strength. Believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in prayer and perseverance.

The Role of Leadership
Ezra's leadership was crucial in navigating the challenges faced by the Jews. Godly leadership is essential in guiding communities through adversity.

The Importance of Discernment
The letter was read and translated, indicating the need for careful examination and discernment of information. Believers should seek wisdom and understanding in all matters.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Despite human opposition, God's plans ultimately prevail. Trusting in His sovereignty provides peace and assurance in the face of trials.Verse 18. - The letter hath been plainly read before me. Despatches are read to, not by, Oriental sovereigns, who have often no literary education. (Compare Esther 6:1.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The letter
נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א (niš·tə·wā·nā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 5407: An epistle

you sent
שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן (šə·laḥ·tūn)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7972: To send away, for, out

us
עֲלֶ֑ינָא (‘ă·le·nā)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

has been translated
מְפָרַ֥שׁ (mə·p̄ā·raš)
Verb - Piel - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 6568: To make distinct

and read
קֱרִ֖י (qĕ·rî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7123: To call, read out or aloud

in my presence.
קָדָמָֽי׃ (qā·ḏā·māy)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 6925: Before


Links
Ezra 4:18 NIV
Ezra 4:18 NLT
Ezra 4:18 ESV
Ezra 4:18 NASB
Ezra 4:18 KJV

Ezra 4:18 BibleApps.com
Ezra 4:18 Biblia Paralela
Ezra 4:18 Chinese Bible
Ezra 4:18 French Bible
Ezra 4:18 Catholic Bible

OT History: Ezra 4:18 The letter which you sent to us (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 4:17
Top of Page
Top of Page